Steward United Methodist Church Newsletter

September 2014 edition

“Peace March for the Korean

Peninsula” My family went to join the 2014

ecumenical peace march for peace

and reconciliation on the Korean

peninsula which was held on July 26

in Washington D.C. We marched

from Foundry UMC to Lafayette

Park in front of the White House.

It was a very touching moment for me, shouting for the peace treaty and hearing

personal stories of the pains and sorrows from the separated families. I’m so proud of

my son, Micah, participating in this peace march with us.

As WCC (World Council of Churches) asked us to join in the prayer for peace and

reunification of the Korean peninsula on the Sunday before August 15, my two

congregations, Creston and Steward, joined in the prayer on

the Sunday of August 10.

A friend of us urged the U.S. to take a lead in forging peace

between North and South Korea. She expressed that “Korea

is a country that’s still divided when other Cold War-era rifts

have healed. As a Korean-American, that really weighs

heavily on my heart, especially for the separated families

that haven’t seen each other for over 61 years.”

During the vigil I was so moved by the story of the retired

Methodist pastor, Chang-Soon Lee, who has been separated

for six decades. As a symbol of the suffering from division,

Rev. Lee told us his personal heartbreaking story.

His testimony reminded me of the dream of the 8th century prophet Isaiah for peace:

“They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isa

2:4, NRSV). Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and learn God’s ways and

walk in God’s paths.

May God bless us as we continue to strive for the peace and justice!

Pastor Jin Yang Kim

Hub Cluster News

Chana UMC: A Beth Moore bible study, Children of the Day, starts Sept. 8- Nov. 3, 6:30pm. Contact

Chana UMC if you are interested in attending. They will make arrangements for materials.

Creston UMC: Visit the French Fry Booth at Creston Booster Days, Sept.13-14 for delicious specialty French fries, made on site. Franklin Grove UMC: They are collecting items for “Personal Essentials Pantry”: dish soap, laundry soap, bar soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, and shampoo. These items will be distributed with food pantry items for personal care. If you have donations, your Cluster communicator can deliver them to the next meeting. Rochelle: CROP Walk is coming soon! – All are invited to a Spaghetti Dinner Sept. 3, 6pm. Proceeds from the dinner will go to CROP Walk and the dinner will also be Rally Day for CROP Walk participating churches. All Cluster churches are invited and encouraged to participate this year. The walk is at 1:30 on Sept.28, leaving from Rochelle Presbyterian Church and returning to that location, 4.5 miles total. Local food pantries will receive the proceeds. Coordinate the event for Steward, eat spaghetti, walk, sponsor a walker, or do it all! Midwest Mission Distribution Center: MMDC has distributed 10,389 school bags! They still need school supplies to replenish the shelves. Shop now while the supplies are still priced for Back to School. Pastor Glen will be bringing a school desk (hopefully to Steward) made entirely of reclaimed bleacher material. Hope you are able to see the fruits of the labor of many!

Cluster Golf Outing A golf outing is planned for Sept. 7 at Fairways Golf Course, Rochelle. The cost to play is $30/golfer, which includes a cart. Ten dollars of each fee will go towards the Cluster mission fund. The game format is “Best Ball” and prizes are

being donated by each church. Expect hospitality holes and some special fun challenges along the way. Gather a foursome, or contact Brian or Dawn Johnson if you would like to be partnered with others to create one.

United Methodist Women UMW will meet on September 25, 7pm. The program for the evening will be planning for the Turkey Supper. (Mark your calendars now for October 9!) Janet Stocking will be the hostess for the meeting.

*New Office Hours for Pastor Jin: Tues-Thurs. 1-5pm

Here’s the church…….

Steward United Methodist church has been a church without a steeple since 1912- 102 years- due to a lightning

strike.

Here’s the steeple… After much research and planning, the decision has been made to add a steeple to the church! Thanks to several

loving memorial gifts designated for just such a project, as well as some private donations, a steeple is being

purchased. No funds will be used from the general fund for this project. Anyone who would like to give towards

this project above and beyond their regular church giving may mail gifts to:

Steward United Methodist Church- Steeple Project

P.O. Box 80

Steward, IL 60553

The addition is slated for THIS FALL!.......”The Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise!” After 102 years, it

will only take 3-4 days to complete the project! Amazing!

We’ll open the doors and welcome the people! Watch for details of a special celebration event after the project is complete, and join us!

Sunday School Rally Back Day- Sunday, September 7

Sunday school is 10am-10:50. Classes are available for Preschool, Kindergarten-6th, Junior/Senior High, and Adults of all Ages. All are welcomed! No need to preregister,

just COME ON DOWN!

Church Conference (formerly Charge Conference)

This year’s Joint Church Conference is scheduled for September 18, 7pm, at Creston UMC. Church members are encouraged to attend and celebrate the mission and ministry of our churches. The focus of this year’s CC is on children. Members who attend are asked to ask a child or teenager one of the following questions and join in a discussion:

- What is the best part of your day?

- What is the least favorite part of your day?

- What makes the kids in your community cry?

- If you could change something about this world, what would it be?

- If you could change something about the church, what would it be? God has gifted us with precious children. Let’s listen to their voices and meet them where their needs lie. Fellowship will follow Church Conference.

Senior Social Connections

September Meeting- Monday, September 15

11 a.m. Meet at Roberts Armory WWII Museum

(follow the signs on the Army truck at IL Route 251 and Intermodal Drive)

We will have a tour of the museum and be able to roam about on our own as we

choose. There is no fee for the tour, but donations are appreciated.

12:30 p.m. Picnic Lunch After the museum tour, we will meet at Lake Sule for a

picnic. Meat will be provided and we ask that you bring a scrumptious

picnic dish to share if you are able.

If you are interested in joining us for this gathering, please call the church (815-396-2250) and leave a

message that you will be joining us; be sure to leave your name and phone number in the message. We need to confirm the number of people attending the museum one week in advance, and will need to know how many people to plan on for lunch.

October Meeting- Monday, October 20

10:15 a.m. Meet at Steward United Methodist Church to board the Eden Express

for a Field Trip to Maxson Riverside Restaurant in Oregon, Illinois.

Boat boarding begins at 11 a.m., and we will be dining on the boat as we cruise

along the scenic Rock River. Given the time of year, it should prove to be a

gorgeous array of fall colors! You will have your choice of two different meats,

potato, vegetable, salad, orange rolls, dessert, and beverage.

September 2014

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4 5 6 Labor Day Spaghetti Dinner @

Rochelle UMC for CROP Walk, 6pm

7 Rally Day 8 9 10 11 12 13 Communion & Food Pantry Collection

Ad.Council, 7pm Booster Days-Eat French Fries

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Booster Days-Eat French Fries

Senior Social Connections-Roberts Armory tour & picnic

Church Conference @ Creston, 7pm

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 UMW 7pm

Hostess: Janet Stocking

28 29 30 CROP Walk at Rochelle UMC

Thanks to all who helped or purchased at the Stewardfest bake sale. Our sale was a huge success and helped us surpass the $3000 mark in collecting for Imagine No

Malaria! We are at 62% of our goal! Thank You, Thank You